DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1929, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

CAT GIVES ALARM

FAMILY ESCAPE FROM BLAZING HOUSE.

( By Telegraph, Per Press Association

AUCKLAND, Nov. 11

A wailing cat gave the alarm when a four-roomed cottage at the corner of Pan mure and Fern dale Roads was found to be on fire early this morning. H. W. Hawthorne, -his wife and three children awoke to escape just before the whole place was enveloped in flames. Hawthorne found the back part of the cottage blazing and thick smoko sweeping through the rooms. It was with the greatest difficulty that ho carried out the sleeping children.

SCHOOL ROBBED,

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov./ 12

•. Soliie person or persons forced an entry into tlie Linwood School, Woodliam road, on Saturday morning last. Although the desks and cupboards in every room were rifled, tlie intruders found no money, and beyond the inconvenience caused to the staff no .very considerable damage was done. The headmaster’s room apparently received most attention, the drawers In his desk being tampered with. Papers were strewn over the floor. In another room a cupboard had been partially smashed and books and bags were in disorder. The robbery was discovered shortly after the’ thief had got away.

BOOKMAKER FINED

MARTON, November 12

Described by the police as a silver bettor, William John Rees, a well known local business man, was fined £5 10s to-day for using his premises as a common gaming house. Tlie police said the town is becoming overrun with bookmakers and an effort is being made to clean things up.

DEATH DUE TO POISON. AUCKLAND, Nov. 11. At an inquest on Ada Bennett, aged sixty, the wife of Henry Bennett, the Coroner found that death was due to poisoning, while mentally depressed. He remarked that a month or two in the Wolfe Home would probably have saved her life. The husband, in evidence, said that he was on the Public Works staff near Cambridge. He returned home in response to a letter from his wife and found the doors locked and his wife lying dead on the floor.

COUNTY OFFICE BURGLED

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 12,

Some time during the week-end, probably on Sunday night, the strong room and safe of the Paparua County Office was blown open. The thieves stble cheques to the value of £285,. and £49 in notes and silver of the County’s money, and £ll the property of the County Clerk, Mr J. Maginness. The explosion was heard by near-by residents shortly after midnight on Sunday. The thieves had cut the telephone wires in the office. They overlooked a large number of pay envelopes which were also in the strong room.